The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-09-16
CHINATOWN.
A STREET IN NEW YORK WHERE
CHISAMES ARE THICK.
How the 0, 600 Mongoliansinth the Me
tropoIis Live and What They Do
-Fifty Chinese Citizens-Dis-
reputable Cinnamon.


Ezpres, there were but about $50 China
men in New York. The Chinatown OF
the present was a very insignificant
colony, and a queue seen on the streets
created sensation. at least among the
ranks Of the small bows downtown. Now
there are fully 1900 Celestials in this
city. They are doing well in various
lines Of business, and there are a large
number Of them who have bank accounts
running into thousands and tens Of thou
sands q dollars. In fact there are at
least two Chinese merchants in Mott
street who each own considerably over
500, 900 in property and money. II was
not until 1873 that the Chinese took
possession Of Mott street. At that time
the six companies of San Francisco,
which practically controlled the Chinese
population Of that city, established an
agency in this once fashionable street. As
new arrivals from the Flowery Kingdom
appeared on the scene they settled down
IN this spot. and Chinatown waXed ard
grew strong. until il became what II now
j.. a Feritahle city within a city, having
It's own municipal government, and in
and growing in strength oblivious Of the
political and social amenities Of the great
city around il, The Chinese evidently
believe IN close corporations. He does
not froth AZ the mouth when the word
monopoly is uttered in his presence. On
the contrary he seems 10 like II. There
are SIX men in Chinatown who practi-
cslly run us machinery business, politi-
cal aad social They are in this respect
not dissimilar 10 the famous six com
pauies Of California. although they claim
TO he independent Of them.
The chinaman naturally drifts into the
laundry business. Two thirds Of the
Nougolians in this city are engaged in
il. The thirty headquarters Of the thirty
different clans, as they are known, supply
the information that there are Just about
2, 90 launiries in this city managed by
Chinamen. The average number Of
Norkmen in each Is three, giving a total
Of 5000 Cinnamon who are engaged in
the commendable industry Of keeping
New York supplied with clean linen.
Most Of these laundries are owned by in
dividuals, although the big Mott street
companies own good many. kwong
Hing Lung made . good many Of his
fl25. 600 by Specializing in laundries, or
IN other words, in establishing them at
various parts Of the city, and either rent
ing them or selling them under mort
cages. lie Is said TO hold mortgages on
or % he principal owner in about 200 at
the present time. There is a double
profit In tins line Of business, for the 900
laundrymen whom be thus practically
canfrols must all deal in his grocery
store. Thus does KwoDg prosper and
grow fat We Kee. who Is the oldest
asd Weaifhiest Of the Mott street mer-
chants. besides his large grocery business,
is big exporter Of American goods to
China He makes particularly large
shipments in petroleum.
The Chinese in New York have not
made any large success as domesfics as
they did in the West. There are a few
hundred Of them employed in factories.
About 400 Of them are cigarmakors;
shout a. many more are engaged IN the
smaller groceries in and about Chinatown,
II which there are nearly one hundred.
There a7e upwards Of hundred tobacco
stores and about dozen drug stores that
are supported By the Mongolian popula-
tion. and more than that number Of dis
finufiFely Chinese restaurants, ond an
unknown Number Of places where the
LoInesiek Celestial can dream Of the
delights Of the FloEery Kingdom and Of
the soft carcesses Of oblique-eyed hours
while under the Influence Of the seductive
POPPY. Besides. Chinatown has float
ing population q about 600, made up Of
gambler. criminals and men Of leisure.
Il IL due 70 the colony 10 say, however,
that II is not partial 70 idlers.
The Chinese population Of the city Is
divided into what are known as clans.
There are fhirfyin all Each has head
quarters where meetings are held, for
social snd political purposes. The social
part q il consists mainly in playing fan
tan and poker.
Chinatown has a fashion Of minding
its oEa business. snd of settling IFS own
Affairs, that is worthy Of emulation
Every wear il elects a new ruler for It's
municipality. Popular suffrage Is not
known here. The big companies before
referred 20 select the man, and their
choice is never objected 10. At present
Mr.. Woo. Of Park Row, hasks in the
sunshine Of the favor Of Wo Kee and his
confreres. ard is the nominal head Of
Chinatown, and the village is said 10 be
pretty well governed A majority Of the
DISPUTES that naturally arise are settled
out q the courts Law and order is
maintained, there j. said 10 be no corup-
ton OF dissatisfaction. and the tactics
Of the hoodiers are never copied by the
local macnaies.
out II the 1900 Cinnamon in New
York only fifty have taken the trouble to
become citizens and voters. Deputy
Sheriff Tom lie Is the unopposed leader
i This small hand lie is a political
poser in the Fourth and Sixth wards,
f1r these fifty voters viii 10 a man sup
port any candidate that he favors The
politicians know this, hence Toms i'm
porfance Tom d a very sensible, level
beaded sorf ~ fclloE and deserves the
cunGdence that his fellows place IN him
Tom Is by no means owned by any Of the
fsriionz.
II the Cinnamon do not become oiti-
zens they stick 30 Freemasonry. There
ere I 500 Chinese Masons in New York.
az members Of one lodge, the only one
ia the State The Chinese Mas0ns are
not affiliated with the English organiza-
tior, although they follow practically the
sane rules and methods. Al Of the big
guns in Mott street. from Wo Kee down,
are Nasons. and they stick quite as
closely together under any and all cir
eumstancss a. do their English-speaking
brother. When one 81 their number
died q few days ago the whole Of China
town turned cut and attended the
funeral
Nearly all Of the Cinnamon Of this
city are hachei0rs- There are only four
Chinese women IN New York, and as
there are good many obstacles in the
way II securing Caucasian ladies as bet
isr halves. but few Of the 9, 900 men are
benedicis About two hundred Of them
have. however. succeeded in winning the
hearts and hands Of females, mainly Of
German. Italian and Irish origin, aud
lire IN good style with their families.
Mott street j. the respectable part Of
Chinatown. For the most part it Is
clean. quiet and orderly But doWn in
Pei street art gathered several hundred